A bunch of HUGE things are going on over the next week or two. I shall itemize them now.

(… But I shall also pepper in my hottest dress picks for summer, because who doesn’t love that? A good read (if I do say so myself) + the cutest dresses ever = a great blog post, in my estimation.) Ok, DRESS PIC TIME!

Your proposal stories are b for bananas. I really don’t know how else to describe them. They are just making my YEAR right now. They are so awesome that I need to pursue a column in a wedding or style magazine where I can feature them regularly because that’s how much they rule. And guess what? Set your watches (my 6th grade mathlete buddies) because the series is set to start in a couple of weeks. I know you guys are dying to see them up in lights and believe me, I am dying to bring them to your neck faces. DRESS PIC! … {Continue reading…}

I love fashion. Now, I’m not one of those people who’s obsessed with it – ok I’m obsessed with it. However, somehow I happen to be one of those extremely rare types who gushes over sleek, sexy cocktail dresses, dies for that perfectly embellished belt, and all the rest… but rarely if ever actually buys anything. I have my Dad to thank for that. That’s called genetic code, and my Dad invented the “save your money” chromosome (or whatever; I wasn’t a biology major). He isn’t cheap, not at all, but he DOES NOT BELIEVE IN DISCRETIONARY INCOME. Some of you may be thinking this is a good trait; that I’m lucky. You think I’m lucky to be a born saver? Tell that to my wardrobe. Tell that to my three pairs of shoes. Tell that to my “Winner” Brand black sneakers I got in 7th grade, because my Dad didn’t “understand why you need the Nike ones? These are just as good.” Yeah, you know who you can tell that to? Each and every member of my 7th grade French class. Because they all had a lot to say about those kicks and it didn’t have anything to do with how right my dad was.

As an aside, I learned something from my brand-less K-12 existence: when I have children, I will teach them to be good people, and I will not spoil the crap out of them. But I WILL give them name brand clothing if they ask for it. You may consider that a bad idea, but a little less suffering in those formative years never hurt anybody. *The more you know.*

I digress… back to fashion love. Sometimes… there comes along an accessory. An accessory that reduces all other accessories to cheap whores, and makes me click “buy” without hesitation. (Ok, without much hesitation.) This accessory would need to be the perfect combination of absolute cuteness, real necessity and bang for your buck. Enter: the belts and dresses within this post. OMG.

See that belt up at the tippity top of this post? That’s Ruche‘s wrap around a rose belt in swiss coffee, and it’s only $19.99. I KNOW. Here’s another shot of it:

I am obsessed with that belt, and even more with the ones that follow. Any one of these is THE PERFECT ACCESSORY to add that extra bit of awesome to your little e-shoot sundress or wedding gown or what have you. I’m always thinking about what will result in the best possible photos, and belts knock ‘em out of the park, without fail, my friends. Anthro dresses have never done me wrong, either. Here we go with the rest of my picks:

These belts restore my love for frilly floweryness. (Not that it ever really left me, but I get fed up easily with frilly floweryness. Only so much one can take.)

By the way, yesterday was my Dad’s birthday. Which means my present to him is complaining about a specific childhood experience to the world, one that completely goes against the incredible father he is to me. Aren’t I just the greatest daughter?!

Dad: I love you, man. You are terrific… so terrific that it makes me tear up when I think about just how terrific. That’s pretty terrific. Happy birthday, Popsicle.

Here’s why I love this dress (which was featured in one of Abby’s amazing real weddings on Style Me Pretty):

I’ve always been frustrated by two very conflicting desires I have for “THE DREAM” dress. One desire is to have a gown that is simple, playful and girlie, which, for me, translates to just right above the knee. Plus, everybody has a certain feature that they love about themselves, and for me, it’s my gams. (And if you don’t have a feature that you love about yourself, STOP IT. YOU’RE BEING TOO CRITICAL. And if you’re really having trouble, ask someone if you must… in fact it’ll probably make your day.) The other (equally strong) desire is to achieve a classic, elegant look, and not to appear foolish and/or stunted. Which, for me, translates most likely to a floor-length gown. I’ve always assumed that there’s really no in-between, aside from those mid-calf-cutting pedal pusher frocks. And what I know for certain is that I will NOT wear a dress that cuts me off mid-calf. Here’s a little history on that…

When I was younger, I didn’t look like what these 13- and 14-year-old-girls look like these days. I don’t know why, maybe I didn’t drink enough hormone-laden milk products during my formative years. Whatever. I just didn’t look like a woman when I was a child. And in more recent years, I’ve totally embraced that fact. It gave me a few more years to be a kid, and for that, I’m grateful. But it wasn’t doing me any favors back when I was living it. The reason I’m telling you that story is because two features I haaaaaaaaaaaated about my body were calf 1 and calf 2. I really, really, really hated them. And I wasn’t yet the towering 5’4 I am now, so my legs were shorter… and I played soccer. And my mother is German. Sooooo… I had muscular calves. I think they were the recessive and dominant genes available… it was my destiny. They weren’t like these massive calves by any means, it’s just that everyone pointed them out, and how “powerful” they looked. (Thanks, everyone, for that, by the way.)

When I think back on what they said, I realize that they were being more flattering than anything else, but you really can’t blame me. I mean, come on, these were the puber-tastic days. Puberty is defined as not being able to process the pointing out of extremely unique bodily features as a good thing. That is the definition. So I felt hopelessly different, and it totally made the issue far worse in my mind than it ever was.

Anywho, fast-forward a couple years later, and everything changed. EH. VRUH. THUH. I got those things the milk drinkers got – but they came about naturally, which was obviously best. It was a case of latent (or maybe, appropriately-timed?) genetic onset. And boy was life full of sunshine and lollipops from that point, forward. (HAHAHH, just kidding. Boobs and proportional legs do not a perfect life make, Heidi Montag Pratt. But I think you already know that at this point. Actually, do you?)

… Anyway, that kinda sorta in a roundabout way leads me to why I’m a fan of this dress. It’s a sweet little combo of elegant, floor-length style, and tea-length playfulness, all rolled up into one heck of a gown. With no mid-calf cutting of any kind!

Aaalllllright! So! Enough about me, eh? Picture time:

About the dress, since you’re probably wondering: Melody (the bride) purchased it in Manhattan at Cheap Jack’s Vintage Store – I am NOT messing with you, this is real – and had it custom altered to fit her more modern aesthetic:

“My dress was purchased at Cheap Jacks Vintage store in Manhattan for $350. It has no tags, so it might be homemade, circa the 50’s/60’s. It was full length and I had it cut off to be short in the front and long in the back, removed the straps and a pink flower applique, added a jeweled belt, and basically redesigned the entire thing…”

Yeah. She wasn’t kidding around. Amazing job, Melody.

By the way, this girl and I were separated at birth. Evidence:

“My headpiece was purchased on Etsy. It’s actually three things all pinned on my head together because I couldn’t find one I liked by itself.”

I think it’s no secret around here how positively OBSESSED I am with the ladies of Simply Bloom. But here‘s some proof. Here, too.

And here‘s a more recent post featuring one of their yummiest engagement sessions EVUH. If you decide to click on it, you’ll see that I included a teaser in anticipation of this exact shoot that I am so freakin’ excited to share with you now. I am, like, bursting at the seams right now over this shoot!!!

The biggest thing I take away from these photos – aside from their outRAGEOUS beauty and color – is the impact that just a few thoughtfully chosen details can have on your very own e-session. If you’re looking to ramp up the cute factor of your upcoming shoot, I suggest taking some pointers from Vania and Christine’s direction with this shoot (they’re the dynamic duo behind Simply Bloom). This means a trip to the antique store is a MUST. You never know what you’ll find and that makes it SOOOOO FUUUUN. In this shoot, the ladies employed a brilliantly colored french cookbook, a tea set, a honey bear, eggs, an apron, mini paper lanterns, some desserts… ok they went crazy with props. And I love them all the more for it – just look at the results!!! BUT you don’t need ALL of this to make your e-session stand out, I promise. Even just one or two props, if carefully chosen, can a perfectly pretty e-session make. No antique stores nearby? I’d advise checking out your local Anthropologie. A bit more pricey, but hey, it’s your engagement… which means it’s worth it, OBVIOUSLY. Plus, they almost always have a nice gathering of odds and ends in their sale section. For example, last time I went they had this huge wicker basket of totally random and totally rad door knobs. An inspiration shoot stylist’s dream.

Final thought on the matter: it certainly doesn’t hurt to have the ladies of Simply Bloom taking your pictures. ;)

Want to see the rest? That’s a stupid question. Click here to go straight to the Simply Bloom blog for more!

Remember that fit I said I was having over an upcoming blog post? Well, here’s the culprit. That is, aside from the Nutella which a dear friend so helpfully pointed out was contributing to the twitches. Now’s as good a time as any to admit that I was essentially free-basing Nutella for the better half of yesterday. It was my first time, and I overdid it. I learned my lesson. No biggie. No big whoop. Who caaaaares?!! Ok, WHAT THE F IS GOING ON.

Now, when you go check it out, you’ll notice that yes, some of the dresses on there are decidedly slutty. Like, for example, the fact that they’re selling this as a “top,” in the “tops” section. Yes, just put those aside. If you can do that, there’s seriously not much more muck to trudge through on this site. Which leads me to the overwhelmed thing I started in on a few sentences ago. I tend to have this combined physical and mental response – I get all discombobulated – and it’s the result of seeing a bazillion adorable frocks, all at extremely fair prices. When the two chemically react with one another they cause my mind to blow up in ecstasy. Pure, unadulterated, magically delicious (and oh how perfect would it be if it was also sexual) ecstasy.

But putting aside my only recently surfacing unfulfilled desires for fashion-sex, I have some advice for you.

Wear one of these for your engagement photo session. If you do, you will like the way your pictures turn out. Trust.

Moon Terrace Dress

Souvenir Dress

Divine Approval Dress

Take It Slow Dress

Deft Precision Dress

Femme Fatale Dress

Boston Fancy Dress

Double Cross Dress

Sweetest Thing Dress

Paint the Roses Red Dress

Guess what? You can find all that yumminess over at LuLu’s. You’re welcome. ;)

I’m really starting to fall for this dress-making diva, Sarah Seven. She’s a force in the industry, and her unique, super feminine frocks have been speaking to me, lately. Volumes. With their frills and folds, their taut waistlines and flirty, unfinished hemlines, her creations have the unique femininity sought after by so many brides, let alone women in general.

I’m curious, what do you think of these frocks? Do they fit your style?

By the way, if you like what you see here, you can visit Sarah Seven’s Etsy shop to check out what’s available!

By the way, that model is STUNNING, is she not? Maybe it’s really just her face and awesome hair that sell these threads for me. ‘Cause I am hook, line and sinker for each and every one of them. And I usually don’t adore an entire line like I do this one. But just look at that punim! I think she’s the only person in the world who could sell me a pair of overalls.

Some of these looks would work brilliantly as your (slightly risqué) reception frock, no? Like this one, for instance:

There’s something about this dress that I love… alas, I’m a mere 5’4, and this shape requires HEIGHT. So I shall continue to admire it from afar (as is so often my fate!).

Love the lace going on here – very bridal. Not a HUGE fan of the pants, but then again… 5’4.

This has got to be one of the most beautiful, painstakingly arranged inspiration sessions I’ve ever seen. Just look at the attention to detail, the creative touches in the photography (the shot of the young miss applying red lipstick)… and just look at that black lace hat of hers! Oh, how I would love to own that hat. Is it called a hat, by the way? Anybody?

Here’s a taste of the proposal segment (“She Said Yes”). I especially adore this part of the shoot, because I recently went ice skating with my beau and it was way more fun than I expected. Way. I hugely recommend it to you guys if you haven’t yet gone this season. Hurry, before it’s too late!!! Note: it may be too late. ):

People. I just about died when I saw this e-session by Kim Le that Abby recently posted over on Style Me Pretty. It’s major. It’s what e-sessions are meant to look like. For serious.

One of my simple pleasures in life is the way a group of photos can completely make my day. I never know where they’ll be, or what they’ll depict, but when the moment hits me, it’s not unlike the feeling that comes over me when I find out Bumble Bee Solid White Albacore Tuna is on sale for 69 cents per can. That was probably the least climactic thing you’ve read all day. But they really were on sale last week at Food Emporium for 69 cents, and that’s unheard of around here. And no, I don’t have kids. I have a fiancé who loves his tunafish.

Anyway… here, check out a few more of my favorite shots from Jenna & Steven’s e-session:

Isn’t it just the most darling thing ever? This couple is so photogenic, it’s ridiculous. I mean, how much do you love them?

If you liked this – and I’m extremely confident that you did – then I strongly suggest taking a more comprehensive look at this enchanting little e-session by clicking right here! Now, for one more taste…

By the way, canned tuna and candied e-sessions aren’t the only things that make my world go round. But they definitely do their part to keep it spinning.

When I saw a few of these precious little frocks featured on Utterly Engaged, I fell head over heels in love with J.Crew’s flower girl line. I’m pretty sure you will, too. Now, I may have gone a little overboard in this post – I’ve included what seems to be nearly every gown they offer, from silk taffeta to dupioni to tousled tulle. But you know what? I post what I love, and I love pretty much all of them, so why stop at five when I love 15? You get me.

Just wait until you scroll down. It’s not only the dresses that have me swooning; their little girl shoes are absolutely adorable, and the jewelry + embellishments they have available are simply too charming for words. Honestly, everything is so darling, it almost makes me sick.

Twinkle ballet flats! Oh, how delightful.

Patent-leather Mary Janes:

Satin ballet flats with rosettes:

Yup, they come in white, too.

Keeping it casual? Here’s a simple satin ballet flat for the little munchkin.

The only thing I love more than these silk organza flower pins, is the fact that they’re 30% off when you buy two or more of them. That’s kinda nice. Sadly, I don’t have a use for them, but I hope you do!

Aaaand finally, a few pearls to round out the look and add that oh so fine finishing touch.

There’s kind of a HUGE price disparity between the necklace and the bracelet, by the way. I don’t really understand it (aside from the obvious fact that we’re dealing with real and fake). Still, that bracelet is WAY less expensive than you probably think it is. Like, shockingly so. So, as my fiancé likes to kid – here’s today’s lesson in Economics 101 with Alison: why buy a little girl freshwater pearls when they make perfectly good fake ones? This way, when she misplaces or fully loses it sometime between when you give it to her and your ceremony, it won’t be that big of a deal. Because she probably will lose it. And you will get upset, if they were freshwater pearls. No, not normal you – the crazy, getting married version of you who’s capable of losing her temper in front of little girls.

Please forgive me: I just need to start off with a belt I LOOOOVE. I offer my sincerest apologies, because (gasp!) it’s the single item not on sale in this post. I know, I’m terrible. But I just had to include it. I hope you don’t mind!

I am a huge fan of belting dresses. Belts give you a waste when you’re wearing a loose frock, and can truly change everything about your look. They’re pretty much always an improvement. I don’t even know what I’d pair this one up with in my closet, I just loved it from the moment it greeted me on my computer screen. And you can’t choose who {or what} you love. Even with belts.

I love the Summer 2010/Special Issue of New York Weddings. It’s really good. SO good, in fact, that I’ve been in the habit of keeping it on my person wherever I go for the last couple of weeks or so. And I must say, their site is no less entertaining and informative.

Here are some lingerie suggestions I picked up on a recent visit. These would be quite the delightful bridal shower gift for any bride-to-be. Though, I’m sure those of us who love this kind of stuff will be more than tempted to, uhh, take things into our own hands…

Some of you may have heard about this recently, but I suspect the majority of you are hunched over, gasping for air after reading the title of this post.

Well, the news is true. Anthropologie, many a fashionable lady’s favorite store for boho-chic style, will be launching what a great number of us have always considered the dream scenario: a bridal line by the brand. According to Lucky, Anthro will be offering its very own vintage wedding gowns, ranging in price from $750 t0 $5000.

Sound like your dream come true? Well then don’t plan to hold your wedding before Spring 2011, as that’s when the brand plans to launch its bridal site, not to mention a few bridal stores in select cities (yes, ACTUAL STORES – I know, try to stay calm… but I totally agree this is awesome).

However, say you don’t feel like waiting around for this dress line. Say you’ve already started planning your wedding, and you need a cute little frock, ASAP… and it HAS to be from Anthropologie. Well guess what? Good news! I did some fishing and found that Anthropologie has no shortage of great wedding fair for the bohemian bride-to-be…

***

Beda Dress:

Dusky Alba Dress:

Drifting By Dress:

Zipped Rosettes Jacket:

Wind Catcher Dress:

Cherie Dress:

Now for a little randomness, in the key of white:

***

So, you can plan your wedding around Anthro’s schedule, or you can work with what you can get your hands on right now.

I’d say the gettin’s pretty good. But I must admit – I CANNOT WAIT to see what Anthro unveils come this time next year. I haven’t seen it, but I already love it. :)

Remember this sneak peek? Of course you do – I haven’t experienced so much positive feedback since transitioning out of diapers.

Now, for this post, I’m gonna do something CRAZY. And that’s cut the small talk. Because this series of posts speaks volumes, and I don’t feel like shouting to share the stage. ;) However, before we begin, here’s a quick word to the wise:

Bigger is always better…

So click on each photo if you want to feel like you were there with me.

Alright, without further adieu, I present to you… Vera.

Breathtaking, right? When this show began, I remember becoming consumed by what was strutting immediately before me. Unable to keep it inside, I turned to a friend seated next to me to whisper how I felt… “A sense of calm has washed over me. I feel like I’m lazing in a spa, or floating on a thick cloud. This is INTOXICATING.”

As most of you already know, this past Saturday I attended one of the most FABULOUS wedding events around. It was, of course, the “Wedding Party,” and it was bananas. I’ll be presenting new photos and inspiration from the event every single day this week. Let’s begin, shall we?

Commencing with our star players: the event was hosted by Claudia Hanlin and Jennifer Zabinski, the two lovely, remarkable women behind the Wedding Library, a chic wedding research boutique located on NYC’s upper east side.

Before I go on, I’d first like to extend my sincerest gratitude to Claudia and Jennifer for having me – the event was INTOXICATING (more on why I chose that word, in a later post) and I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed the experience, from start to finish. (Truly, it was the best way I could have imagined spending my birthday!)

The Party, which began at 10:00 in the morning and lasted well into the afternoon, felt like it whipped by, due in large part to its uber-jam-packedness (yes, a made up word) with delicious goodies, jaw-dropping style, incredible people and breathtaking inspiration. If you weren’t there, well, you’re probably going to regret it once you see the myriad photos I took of everything the event had to offer.

After Claudia and Jennifer welcomed everyone, they handed things over to the one… the only… Darcy Miller, editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings.

Darcy has quite a presence. She’s all sorts of charming, a bit self-deprecating and, most of all, brilliantly in touch with the wedding industry’s freshest trends and the bride collective’s deepest decorating desires. I eat, sleep and breathe Martha Stewart Weddings, both print and net, yet still found myself hypnotized by the engaging musings and dazzling imagery delivered by this maven of matrimony.

Here, she shares with us the unexpected beauty afforded by an ice sculpture:

You’re going to LOVE what’s in store this week… and I kinda can’t wait to share it all with you. Here’s a sneak peek…

And another…

It’s gotta be in doses, however, because I’ve got a LOT to post. I put my camera battery in a sleeper hold and didn’t let up over the course of nearly five hours. Thank bejeezus my friend brought along her own, or I might have been that blonde girl openly crying in the second row during the Vera Wang runway show.

Fortunately, it didn’t go quite like that. Instead, I snapped a bazillion photos, all beginning with this one:

Just wait until you see the rest.

Oh, and it’s not just gowns I’ll be posting… though the rush one experiences at a Vera Wang runway show is likely comparable to that achieved in summiting Mount Everest (I wouldn’t know firsthand, but it’s probably accurate).

I’ve got dessert tables that tantalize, wedding cakes coated in buttercream, colorful crafts for the creatives out there, and so much more.

Valentine’s Day is this Sunday (!!!) and if it’s chilly in your neck of the woods, you might find yourself challenged in the cute outfit department. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Just throw on a simple red scarf like Katie did in her engagement session with Marianne Taylor of Marianne Taylor Photography, and watch your entire look go from ho-hum to va va voom!

But then again, maybe the chill factor isn’t as much of an issue for you. If that’s the case, then I envy you, but more importantly I have the most beautiful engagement session to share with you, which I discovered – where else – on the always inspiring Style Me Pretty. The stunning photography is by lunaphoto, and while it may be a little too nippy out there, even in Cali, how could I NOT bring this loveliness to your eyes…

Have you heard about this? I got sooo excited when I learned of it – Heather and Kimberly announced on LA Style Unveiled that the amazing Jill Thomas of Jill Thomas Photography is offering one seriously lucky couple a Free Engagement Session!

Not only can you win a free engagement session with Jill Thomas, but first prize also includes a style and design consult for the session courtesy of Amorology Weddings. Woweewawa!

So, what do I have to do, Alison?

Well, do you have any oranges handy?

Because all you need to do is send in a photo of yourself with those oranges, and describe what a “perfect date” would be for you and your beloved. (I love contests like this; so heartwarming and fun, and this one in particular makes me dream about my recent trip to California!)

It all ends this Sunday on Valentine’s Day, so visit LA Style Unveiled for more details!

Now, here’s some more of Jill’s brilliant work to get you inspired…

I LOVE the hankies!!! What a fabulous touch. You could even embroider your own for a truly personalized look!

I adore the vintage inspired threads worn by the lovely ladies in this shoot. Their ensembles lend to the romantic, delicate feel of the shoot.

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I love the style of dress in these photographs so much, that I’ve gathered up a few looks from – where else – Anthro, that I thought might help you to complete the look.